If you only could go to one...

[cbeeindisney]

I just started reading the Harry Potter series (I know, I'm late to the HP party!), and I would really like to fit in a trip to Universal while during my Disney trip to get to some of HP World. If you only could go to one of the parks to visit either Islands of Adventure or Univ. Studios Florida, which one would you choose based on the HP World offerings?

 

[phillymummer]

I honestly can't pick just one. They are both awesome in their own way. I would have to buy a one-day park hopper ticket just so I could visit both sides and ride the hogwarts express ( you need a PH ticket in order to ride it).

 

[Disneylover99]

Diagon Alley in Universal Studios

 

[danielocha30]

Doing both is the best! and price wise better option to buy 2 park same day ticket, BUT if you're just on the beginning of HP books do Island of adventure, doing Universal will put you at the end of the story and you won't appreciate some stuff, if that not a issue for you then do both park they are amazing!

 

[danielocha30]

Also...to ride the Howard express you need a 2 park ticket, they won't let you ride with single park ticket

 

[bchbetha]

Just skip Disney and do Universal.
I'd pick Diagon Alley. It's bigger and the details are just amazing. But, Hogsmeade and Hogwarts are pretty neat too.

 

[phillymummer]

Just skip Disney and do Universal.
I'd pick Diagon Alley. It's bigger and the details are just amazing. But, Hogsmeade and Hogwarts are pretty neat too.

I second this! LOL Or squeeze in a day at Disney during your trip to Universal.

 

[georgina]

I like the Forbidden Journey ride at IOA better than the Gringott's ride. The theming in the line is great too. So based on rides I would go with IOA. For atmosphere and details I think Diagon Alley has more, but like danielocha30 said more of it is toward the end of the books. We are also bigger fans of the overall theming at IOA vs US, love the Seuss area.

 

[maverik85]

It's a very hard choice. Overall I'd say Diagon Alley is the better pick as it is a little bigger and has more in the way of shops and experience, and Gringotts is awesome.
But Hogsmeade is great too and has Hogwarts which is the iconic part of Harry Potter. Also as Danielocha30 said some of the aspects of Diagon Alley, especially the Gringotts ride, focus on stuff from later in the series so might not appreciate it as well.
But you really can't go wrong with either. So might look at what else the parks offer outside of HP. IoA has the big roller coasters, water rides, and Spider-Man. While Universal has Springfield, Mummy, and Transformers. If all you really care about is the HP stuff though I'd really recommend a park hopper ticket to experience both sections and the Hogwarts Express (make sure to ride it both directions as the experience is different each way).

 

[nighttowll]

IoA

If I only get one shot at pretending to be in Harry Potter world, I'm going to make sure I see Hogwarts!

 

[ThemeParkGuy]

Nothing encapsulates Harry Potter more than Hogwarts- Must be IOA.

 

[jess1017]

I would definitely pick Diagon Alley... It was so much cooler (temperature wise) than Hogsmeade and I felt like there was more to do and see. I also preferred Escape from Gringotts over Forbidden Journey, but that's just my personal preference. Although seeing Hogwarts was awesome, if you've read the books/watched the movies, I think you'll really appreciate all of the detail in Diagon Alley. I agree with others that the best way to do it is to get the P2P tickets and ride the Hogwarts Express! Well worth the extra $$ if you're going to be making the trip to Orlando.

 

[kathy884]

I always end up forking over for one of the expensive one day park hoppers because I think the train going from Universal to IOA is so cool. If I were to pick one I would do Universal because of how large the Diagon Alley area is.

It actually makes me mad that I get sucked into buying such an expensive ticket. But on their part it was a brilliant marketing plow to put Harry Potter stuff in both of their parks. Should have bought some of their stock.

I'm going to be in Orlando in November. DH has a seminar at one of the Universal Hotels. He will only be doing the parks one night starting at 4:30 p.m. (IOA is open till 6 p.m. and Universal to 9) and even for him and his short timeframe, I'm forking over for a one day hopper. I wanted to take the train over to Hogwarts and do the castle tour before heading back to Diagon Alley and having dinner there and spending the rest of the evening there.

 

[jess1017]

I always end up forking over for one of the expensive one day park hoppers because I think the train going from Universal to IOA is so cool. If I were to pick one I would do Universal because of how large the Diagon Alley area is.

It actually makes me mad that I get sucked into buying such an expensive ticket. But on their part it was a brilliant marketing plow to put Harry Potter stuff in both of their parks. Should have bought some of their stock.

I'm going to be in Orlando in November. DH has a seminar at one of the Universal Hotels. He will only be doing the parks one night starting at 4:30 p.m. (IOA is open till 6 p.m. and Universal to 9) and even for him and his short timeframe, I'm forking over for a one day hopper. I wanted to take the train over to Hogwarts and do the castle tour before heading back to Diagon Alley and having dinner there and spending the rest of the evening there.

Right now Universal has a B1G2 on a P2P for select guests, so this might make it a little more 'worth it' if he can find even a little bit of free time during your stay to go back to the parks! If you're signed up for their newsletter/promo emails, you should have/will receive an email that will let you take advantage of this offer.

 

[tinkerpea]

If your at the start of tue books then I'd do islands of adventure purely for Hogwarts it's absolutely stunning!
Although if you can swing it do both